Page 6 of A Filling of Fables and Firelight

“Because Dan told me to give it to you. He said you’re much better equipped to handle this one.” Jasper clasped his hands behind him and rocked backwards on his heels. “Aida agreed.”

Curious, Rana unfolded the missive and began skimming its contents. Her brows lifted with every word until she reached the end with a loud exhale. “Of course she did.”

She heard Teta’s shuffling steps approaching behind her, and her grandmother’s voice at her elbow asked, “What is it?”

“A summons from the palace.” Rana folded the letter along its original lines.

“And?” Teta’s voice was eager.

“And it seems they want a seamstress after all.”

Chapter Four

RANA

“And this is where you will be staying.” The housekeeper, a lively, dark-eyed woman who had introduced herself as Samira gestured around the small, pleasantly furnished room. “If there’s anything you need while you’re here, let either me or one of the maids know.”

Rana turned in a slow circle, taking in the space, and let her bag slide from her shoulder. Like the rest of the palace, the floors were done in a mixture of marble and colored tiles, and the tall windows let in plenty of light and fresh air. A netted canopy hung over the bed, which was decked in a coverlet patterned with purple and mauve and piled with pillows of varying shapes and sizes. “This is beautiful, thank you.”

Samira clasped her hands together as her mouth widened with a bright smile. She was younger than Rana would have expected, given her position, but she acted with a confident efficiency that made it clear she was more than competent in her role. “I’m so glad that you’ll be joining us. I have to admit—when Zamar first mentioned the Queen’s Contest, I wasn’t sure how on earth I was going to manage all the contestants. We’ll be stretched thin enough as it is with just the cleaning and attending to that many guests, and our meager mending and needlework skills would hardly be sufficient.”

“I’m sure it would have been fine.” Rana crossed the room and set her bag on the bed.

Samira snorted. “You have more confidence than I do, then. Besides, ‘fine’ doesn’t cut it when the future queen is involved. Whoever wins will have the power to get rid of whatever staff she sees fit, and I would much prefer that all my girls keep their jobs.”

“Understandable.” Rana nodded slowly, her eyes seeking out the garden courtyard just beyond her window. A tiered fountain sat in the middle, its merry bubbling a soothing sound in the background, and she watched the water for a moment before turning back to the center of the room.

“Anyway,” Samira continued, “feel free to explore and make yourself at home here. I don’t have a dedicated workspace for you, but you can choose any of the sitting rooms as long as they’re not being used for the contest. You can get food from the kitchen whenever it’s convenient, but those of us who aren’t kitchen staff usually eat together in the evenings, if you want to join us.” She paused for a moment, eyeing Rana’s dress with admiration. “Though honestly, you could probably sneak into His Majesty’s dining room and no one would even bat an eye. You look more like a princess than even some of the other contestants. If it’s an example of your work, I can understand why Dan recommended you.”

Her head tilted. “You know Dan?”

“I was a maid for Princess Aida when she first came to El-Huram. We all assumed she was going to marry His Majesty, and it was quite the surprise when she wound up with a tailor instead. But between you and me,” Samira’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I think she got the better deal.”

Rana hummed in agreement. “From what I understand, it wasn’t a hard choice.”

She jerked her chin down in a brisk nod. “Indeed. But speaking of choices, if you’re ready, I’ll take you to introduce you to the contestants. They’ll be presented at a formal dinner tonight, and I’m sure your skills will be required by at least a few. At the very least, it will give you an idea of what you’ll be working with.”

Rana’s head was already spinning with colors and patterns and fabrics that would pair best with each of the contestants as she settled into a quiet corner in one of the sitting rooms that Samira had pointed out during her tour that morning. A fire crackled in the low hearth, providing light and ambience to the room and just enough warmth to stave off the chill of the desert air that blew through the tall, arched, pane-less windows. The light reflected off the gold worked into the patterned walls, and the soft, luxurious blankets that draped over the long, curved divan gave the room a rich, cozy atmosphere that felt far too fine for a seamstress.

The divan cushion was just as comfortable as it looked, and she let out a sigh of contentment as she reached into the basket at her feet, pulling out the emerald bundle of fabric and finding her place again in the pattern. She relaxed into the familiar tug and pull of the thread as she ordered her thoughts.

Though she was well-accustomed to working for clients who were more…particular…about their preferences, she had never attempted to balance half a dozen at once. Thankfully, all the ladies who were participating in the Queen’s Contest had arrived with their wardrobes already prepared, though Samira had warned her that some of the later challenges might require some adjustments or new pieces. For the moment, however, her job was relatively easy.

“Rana!”

The shout broke the peaceful stillness, causing her to jump. Footsteps echoed down the hall, coming closer and closer to her door, and the next time her name was called, she recognized Jasper’s voice.

“RANA!”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she muttered to herself as she rose, crossing the room and throwing the door open. She folded her arms over her chest and glared at the quickly approaching page. “We’ve had this conversation so many times, Jas. You don’t have to bellow like an excited camel. You weren’t born in a stall.”

He shrugged. “I might have been.”

“Well, you certainly weren’t raised in one.”

“Nah. Just a tent in the slums of El-Huram where I had to pick pockets to find my next meal.”

He delivered the line with such a cool indifference that it took Rana a moment to register that he was being a teenage rascal and trying to get a reaction. She narrowed her eyes.